Reviews: Palmetto Bay Marina

Reviewed by: Allison Williams , Changin' Latitudes, on May 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

another 5 star stay! 4 delicious restaurants! Black Marlin has exceptional brunch, try the sampler, you won't need dinner! washes/dryers convenient to the 1st fuel dock. Can't say enough about the dock tenders, they were professionals!

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Reviewed by: Pat & Kathy , Puffin, on Apr 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 33'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Great stay in late April for 3 night. Docking was easy as docks are parallel to current. Very convenient to restaurants. We borrowed the marina bikes and went to the coastal museum 5 stars) one day and to the beach and Publix the next. Hilton Head has extensive bike and walking trails. Nice bathrooms, free laundry, fuel and pump out completed the amenities. Enjoy snowcones at Chris's and view his Lego collection. Sean gave expert direction on exiting Broard creek at marker 31. We saw no less than 10 feet on a rising tide.

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Reviewed by: Sara and Stephen Hale , s/v Sorella, on Dec 12, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
Draft: 0.0'

Rating: 5

Excellent experience on all levels, in particular because of the dock crew. Tony, Sean and Seth were all exactly what you hope to find when traveling. Helpful in all regards, we'd return in a minute. Great diesel price, super handy laundry and showers, and several restaurants to choose from for dining. A model marina.

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Reviewed by: John Tyrell on Dec 4, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 4

Very nice marina. Nice new, sturdy, floating docks. Competent and friendly dockhands. Easy access to diesel and good pricing. Free laundry, new clean bathrooms. Several nice restaurants on site. Good wifi. No pool; no courtesy car.

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Reviewed by: Robert Smith on Dec 3, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 58'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Tony and Sean are the best. I had issues with the MARY KATHRYN and they went above and beyond to help me out. Thanks guys!

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Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer , Do It Now, on Nov 25, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 2

I had a very unsatisfactory experience coming into this marina for fuel on 11/21/23. I called ahead to confirm a good fuel price of $4.29/gallon for diesel and said I was on my way. When I arrived, no one answered the radio on numerous calls on Channel 16. It was pouring rain and I had no idea where the fuel dock was. Eventually, I got close enough to see a diesel pump at the end of a dock and pulled in with the assistance of my companion. (With the current and the rain, I have my doubts that I could have brought it in safely by myself on the first try.) I soon discovered that fuel was self-serve and the dockhands in their nice, cozy office had no intention of coming down to assist. Rather than tell me this on the radio, they preferred to ignore my calls. And yes, I know they were in the office because I had to walk all the way up there to find a trash can for my used fuel pad. This fuel stop was an hour out of my way due to the No Wake zones all the way to the marina; sometimes it's better to just pay more somewhere else where they value their customers a little more.

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Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on May 20, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 5

Nice clean marina with all of the usual amenities in good order. Free laundry facilities. Near to restaurants, grocery, and taverns. Courtesy bikes and paved trails onto and around the island. Quiet docks in a no wake zone. Any current that may be present is parallel to the docks assisting you with your dockage.

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Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on May 20, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 5

The marina is in like new condition. Bright clean restrooms and showers. Floating docks with very few wakes as the marina is in a mostly recognized idle zone. Good WiFi and utilities. Near to restaurants and boat yard on premises. Water toys available to rent. Courtesy bicycles are good to use on adjoining paved bike trails. Quiet surroundings. The lay along docks are parallel to any current that might exist so docking is simplified. Plenty of room to maneuver. Water depth is not a problem throughout the marina.

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Reviewed by: Brenda King , Escapade, on May 8, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 4.9'

Rating: 4

Nice quiet marina with newish floating docks. Staff is very helpful, clean new restrooms/showers and free laundry. There are two decent restaurants nearby but not much else. Uber into town or rent a a car if you really want to explore HHI. There is a bike path and we used our e-bikes to go into town before getting a rental car.

The docks are long and wide and you will be parallel docking. Be careful about coming in with current or wind as you will be backing out of the fairway unless you are on the outside of the first dock.

We really enjoyed our 7 night stay on HHI, great beaches and restaurants. Kayaking is great in Broad Creek and there is plenty to keep you busy.

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Reviewed by: Thomas Schlehuber on May 7, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

4/30/23 - 5/3/23. Great location. Current is a bit strong coming in and with strong winds added, we were put on the outside face wall of marina in their rental area rather than in a slip. Staff were as extremely helpful getting us tied down. Stayed for three nights. Facilities were very nice, although a bit of a hike from this side of marina. Laundry, showers, and restrooms were very nice. Have courtesy bikes if interested. Hilton Head is a larger island so we rented a car via Turo for a couple days. Great stop.

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Reviewed by: Karen Ratte on Apr 4, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 49'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Newly rebuilt with very nice docks, easy face dock approach. Note there is a very strong current, especially ebb, that can be a challenge if you are put on the inside. No showers or laundry, bathrooms are the ones for the restaurant complex and are very clean but could use some maintenance given the high volume use. Staff at marina were fantastic and helpful. Good location for biking right where the bike trail starts. Plenty if restaurants within walking distance, grocery about a mile. Don't know if the plan is to add bath/shower for marina only as there is still some ongoing construction, but that would make this marina a five star one.

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Reviewed by: Shawn Murphy , Gradle, on Feb 21, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

New marina is very nice and the dockmaster, Patrick, was very helpful. He met us at the dock at 6:30 at night when we had engine trouble. There are currently no showers or laundry. There is only a small store to buy sodas and candy. No booze or grocery but there was ice. The are 3 restaurants/bars at the marina. There was live music that weekend. The marina had free bikes to ride. There is a nice trail system through the woods that goes to a commercial area (Publix/Walgreens/Hardware) we walked the dog there in about 20 minutes. Diesel mechanic, Chris Collins, came out the same day I called him and got us running. +1 (843) 683-1570

Everyone was very nice and helpful.

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Reviewed by: Mansutiki , Mansutiki, on Jan 11, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 46'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

We kept our boat at Palmetto Bay while we went home for the holidays and stayed for a few more days when we returned. The Dock hands are great, Patrick the dockmaster is wonderful and very accommodating to our changing plans. The docks are clean, well kept and has restaurants, bar on-site. Overall great experience, we will stay here again when heading North.

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Reviewed by: Norm Miller , Quiet Company, on Oct 18, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

We stayed at Palmetto Bay Marina in our 47 foot Trawler for five days and were very very pleased with the marina and the facilities. The dockage was very reasonable at $1.90 per ft and the Diesel price was 70 cents a gallon less than Charleston at $3.16 per gallon, and they will discount if you buy in quality. ($4.10 for gas) The docks are new with teak decks, and the marina is in the process of adding a substantial number of additional slips that should be in service soon. There are three restaurants on site, and the miles and miles of Hilton Head bike trails are easily accessible from this location. We rode our electric scooters all over the island from here. Many other restaurants and shopping are a short Uber drive away. 30 and 50 amp electric services, water and pump outs are right at the slip and the wifi was good too. This is a dolphin rich area for sightseeing and fishing opportunities readily available. There's also a marine service facility with a haul out at this location. Pat the Dockmaster is super friendly and accommodating and even can rent you a runabout Boat or Pontoon, Jet skis, Zodiacs, Kayaks etc. And when in-season, there is even a pirate ship cruise for the children, and dolphin watching cruises too. Pat also can make a great restaurant recommendations. The marina is located right off the intercostal waterway with easy in and easy out and plenty depth at the docks. We would certainly stay here again when are in the area.

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Reviewed by: Ross Wiltse on May 1, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Up Broad Creek a ways, turns out a great place to use for biking. The bike trail starts at the marina. Currents are strong, the marina slips are parallel with current, so no issue. Wifi worked fine, not many people in the marina in the evening. Facilities are shared with the restaurants, so no showers. Convenient to most all place in Hilton Head, groceries, post office, banks..... If we get back to Hilton Head, we would stay there again.

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